I gave the President Mr.Russell’s
memorandum to read, which he proceeded to do out loud for
Mr.Anderson’s benefit. At the conclusion of a
brief discussion the President stated that he realized the extreme
difficulties incident to this project but was also aware that we were
doing everything possible to bring it to a successful conclusion.
I am attaching the original of Mr.Russell’s memorandum herewith.
[Attachment]
Memorandum From Francis H. Russell to the Under
Secretary of State (Hoover)2
SUBJ
- Present Status of Efforts to Secure Israel-Arab
Settlement
Following the informal discussions between the Secretary and
Eden in Paris last
November,Evelyn
Shuckburgh, who is Under Secretary for Middle Eastern
Affairs in the British Foreign Office, came here for two weeks in
January. I went to London for two weeks in February and again last
week. As a result of these discussions and the background work done
by the Near East offices in the Department and the Foreign Office,
agreement has been reached between the Department and the Foreign
Office on the elements of what it is believed would constitute an
equitable settlement of the major issues between Israel and her Arab
neighbors, such as borders, refugee resettlement and compensation,
Jerusalem, economic relations and political relations, Gaza, and
Egyptian rights
[Page 176]
of transit
across the Negev. The plan assumes the success of the Jordan Valley
Development Plan.
Agreement has also been reached on the best ways of securing Arab and
Israel agreement. Discussions to sound out Egyptian cooperation will
probably take place between Ambassador Byroade and Nasser next week. If they are successful, approaches
would then be made to Jordan and Israel. If Nasser will not cooperate,
alternative approaches have been agreed upon.
One of the assumptions has been that
a requisite element in any settlement would be a guarantee by the
U.S. and the U.K. of the border between Israel and the neighboring
Arab states, and a draft of a treaty has been worked out and agreed
upon.
It is also assumed that the larger part of the funds necessary to
compensate the Arab refugees would have to be provided by the U.S.
and the U.K., and that substantial economic and military assistance
to the cooperating countries would have to be contemplated. (See
attached memo of February 14—Tab A.3)
The above proposals have been approved by Foreign Minister Macmillan and Prime Minister
Eden. In the U.S.
Government, the plans have been discussed as they developed with
George Allen and other
officers in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, with you, and with
the Secretary. On February 15 the Secretary discussed the plans
briefly with the President. (See attached memo of February 15—-Tab
B.4)
